After a bitter cold week here in North Central Pennsylvania things finally started to warm up yesterday. I think it’s almost time to start picking up some plants! In fact, my Mom and I have a little trip planned to visit this amazing greenhouse tomorrow. So excited!

Yesterday I made a little more progress on my Outdoor Shelves. I hinted that this was going to be happening in my last post and a few of you easily picked up on my plans.

I now am officially the owner and creator of my first vertical garden! Ta da!

Now, I know what you are thinking, “Michael, you’re going to need a few more hens and chicks because that just looks like framed dirt.’

I do realized I need a lot more hens and chicks, but I picked up this little bunch at my brother’s house yesterday and just couldn’t wait to get started. I have a few leads on some more, so this sucker will be full in no time, plus I want to leave a little room for things to grow.

Here is how this whole thing came together. (I made the framework last week, if you missed that you can see how I did that here.)

The first step to making my framed hens and chicks was to cut a back for my frame. I traced my frame onto an old piece of paneling I had on hand, then cut it out using a circular saw. After that I sanded down any rough edges.

I picked up some hardware cloth (wire screen) at the local hardware store. Using my newly cut back as guide I cut out the cloth it leaving a little extra on each side as I will be stapling this to my frame.

I trimmed off the excess on each corner to to give me a nice clean edge when inserting it into the frame.

I folded the hardware cloth to neatly fit into my frame and then slide it into place. Using a staple gun, I secured it to the frame.

Once all the staples were in and the screen was secure, I was ready for dirt.

I did purchase one new bag of soil designed for succulents and cactus as the first layer.

I filled in the rest with soil I had from an old flower pot. I packed the soil in as much as I could to make sure it would stay in place.

Once the frame was well packed with dirt and any excess was removed from the frame. I applied the back with wood screws.

When I flipped the frame over I honestly expected lots of dirt to fall out, but was pleasantly surprised to see that mostly all of it stayed inside the frame.

Next up, planting! I was going to go with a mix of succulents for this frame, but ultimately decided to stick with just hens and chicks as they can stay outside all winter.

I dug these guys out of my brother’s driveway. Some of them already have little baby chicks growing out of them! Too cute.

To plant, I used a wooden skewer. I first inserted it through the grid and then wiggled it around to form a hole. Then, I placed the roots of the plant in the hole. If the roots were large I used the skewer to force them down.

Once the plant was in place, I inserted the skewer into the holes around it to fill the dirt back in.

The process was a little tedious, but I love planting, so I enjoyed every minute of it!

After that, I was done (for now), and back to the wall the shelf framed hens and chicks went.

Its been hanging for about 24 hours now and everything is still in place. Success!

I also temporarily added a couple other succulents to the little pots on the shelves (I bought these before I made the decision to stick with just hens and chicks). They most likely won’t stay there, but I’m desperate for a little more green!

Over the next week or two I finish up the styling of these little shelves and share the completed look with you then.

I’m also hoping to dig up a few more hens and chicks too, unless these guys plan on multiplying over night.

I absolutely love it but wondering the same thing about the dirt coming out when it rains. Also wouldn’t the plants fall out once they are larger (if I recall, this plant has a pretty shallow root system)

do get one larger plant to pull totally apart there you have your multiplication. plant in all the little leaves and watch them grow and fill out your planter frame. I have also want to do this but I will use different species to mix together thus create a growing image.

Look at you, Mister! You’re just busting out all over – your front porch project and the blogosphere! Loving the vertical planter and, like many, am a total succulent sucker. Can’t wait to see it later in the season.

Amazing how you did that. I thought for sure it would fall out too. Good for you! What happens when you water it? Will it drip down the wall? Or do you just mist it? It is so cool and think it is the coolest project I’ve seen!

I also wonder how you water it, can it be put on hinges so you only have to put it in a vertical position and water it? I love it, but i probably wont do it for hens & chicks as some years we have bitter winds here and things freeze rock solid, i am thinking maybe some thing else….

Dad and I made this over the weekend and I gave it to mom for mother’s day. She loved it so much and we had fun making it! I used an old window frame and a pit of hens&chicks. Thanks for the creative idea and detailed instructions… I love your blog!

Very cool Michael – found out about you via Brooklyn Limestone. I have to try making one of these verticals! I love them.

Check out my blog – I reported on the San Francisco Decorators Showcase which had a huge vertical wall of succulents. As you are walking to the front door of the house,you are greeted with a long and gorgeous vertical garden. It’s stunning!!

Check out the post called The San Francisco Decorators Showcase Part 1

I love this!!and succulents have been my biggest obsession lately! We did a vertical Flower garden…Now I really want to do a succulent one…Love your porch! If you get a chance come by and check out our vertical flower planter. wow so glad I found your blog! Very NICE

I love this idea and project, my only question for you is how do you intend to keep the soil from packing/settling and falling out of the frame when watering the plants? Otherwise great idea and concept..

Grizz, I take the frame down to water it. Therefor it’s flat and no soil falls out. It’s been hanging for a little over a year and I did have to add new dirt to the planter about a month ago. I’ll be doing an update post soon. You’ll be amazing at how it looks now. Great questions.

Reading your description of your process shows your gentlity and kindness. I am in the process of making my own vertical succulent garden, so have been looking at a variety of posts showing other people’s work. Just reading how you express yourself made your blog, and you as a result, standout. Your mother hen was lucky to have you as a ‘chick!’ The world needs men like you.